Toronto City Planning staff are continuing to study the built form and heritage character of Queen Street West, within the area shown above.

This meeting will introduce the community to the West Queen West HCD Study and provide opportunity to comment on the area’s heritage value.

The evening will begin with an Open House from 6:30-7:00pm, followed by an update by City Staff on the WQW Planning Study. FGMDA Architects, will then give a presentation followed by a discussion facilitated by the project team.

If you would like more information please contact the consultant team, one of the City Planning representatives and/or your Ward Councillor.

The Trinity Bellwoods Community Association (TBCA) is shaking things up! We are looking to tackle new neighbourhood concerns and explore current issues that impact the neighbourhood. We are expanding our role and raising our profile at City Hall to ensure that the voices of Trinity Bellwoods residents are heard. However to do this effectively we need your help to grow our group and ensure local issues are brought to our attention.

The Trinity Bellwoods Community Association is looking for new leadership (Chair) and members’ at large. If you have an interest in local issues, in ensuring that the City hears your concerns for the neighbourhood and in making Trinity Bellwoods an even better place to live – we invite you to join the TBCA.

The TBCA commitment is one meeting every two months to discuss local issues impacting the neighbourhood. If you really want to shake things up and have the skills and drive to help shape the community and provide leadership to the group as theChair, you will be responsible for chairing the bi-monthly meeting, co-ordinating the agenda and liaising directly with Councillor Layton’s office on community issues. As the Chair, you will have the support of our six member Executive team.

If you have concerns about issues in the community and want to make a positive contribution towards improving the neighbourhood – come on out and help us! We can’t do this without support from the residents of Trinity Bellwoods.

Noise is a big issue in Toronto, and as the city increases in density, it is a problem that will only grow. In fact, the City’s April 2015 noise consultation found that 82.5% of respondents indicated noise problems in their Ward.

After two years of consultations with Toronto businesses, industries and residents—on May 12, 2016—the City released a draft of the new noise bylaw.

The TBCA (as a member of The Toronto Noise Coalition) has analyzed the proposed new by-law and found that it fails on three key fronts: 1) Key weaknesses in the original by-law remain unchanged; 2) The proposed changes further reduce noise protections; 3) No efforts have been made to strengthen enforcement.

In light of these failures, the Coalition is urging all supporters to attend the upcoming Licensing and Standards Committee meeting on:

Thursday May 19th, 9:30 AMCommittee Room 1, Toronto City Hall

We need your support to show the Committee that the City needs a proper noise by-law that addresses the real concerns of Toronto’s vibrant communities. We cannot allow the City to approve the proposed by-law in its current form. We need to speak up if we want to be heard!

Please share this message with your networks and encourage your friends and family to attend the May 19th meeting.

Please find below an executive summary of the Coalition’s report on the proposed by-law.

Resident groups say the changes the City is currently proposing for noise bylaw do not measure up to the standards of other major urban centres and fall far short of what a world-class city like Toronto deserves.

Coalition proposes 7 Point Plan based on successful New York City model.

The Toronto Noise Coalition (the ‘Coalition’) finds that the proposed changes to Toronto’s noise bylaws are without many of the key details that will allow Toronto to better manage noise. Noise is a pressing problem and the City’s proposed changes will not solve it. Specifically, the City’s proposed changes are:

Without teeth – with no increased funding for increased and more-timely enforcement, and, there is no onus on mitigation of noise at the source.

Without vision – There is no clear statement of a general provision that the central purpose of the by-law is to protect the health and well-being of the citizens.

Without sufficient public input – while over 90% of Torontonians are concerned about noise, only 8% are aware that the City is considering bylaw changes, and,

With too many opportunities for exceptions – the whole by-law is undercut by the availability of exemptions and a stream-lined process for a blanket application for multiple exemptions.

Noise is a pressing issue for citizens across the city. The coalition has conducted its own survey (available at www.torontonoisecoalition.ca). It proves that the overwhelming majority of Torontonians are concerned about noise. Yet, only a very small percentage even know that the city is about to make significant changes to the noise by-law. The changes are going forward without most people knowing what they are.

“Our member resident associations are telling us that there is bound to be a backlash,” said Coalition spokesperson, Ian Carmichael. “The general public will soon realize the proposed changes will give them less rather than more protection against intrusive noise and nowhere near the protection that residents of other cities have.”

The Coalition proposes that Toronto follow the New York City’s approach, which it has summarized as a 7-Point Plan for Effective Noise Management. The key points are: Declaration of Policy; a General Provision for 24/7 protection from vibrations and sound; and specific recommendations for Amplified Sound, Construction, Mechanical Equipment, Exceptions, and Enforcement.

“New York City gets it right,” Carmichael said. “They brought in recognized noise experts and ensured the bylaw process was not primarily an economic development exercise, as it is here in Toronto.”

One of the primary authors of New York City’s noise bylaw is Charles Shamoon, Assistant Counsel, New York City Department of Environmental Protection. He said, “In New York City, we developed an effective noise bylaw that takes into account science, the concerns of residents, public health needs and city planning as a whole. We brought in all of the various stakeholders and we worked together to create a consensus around noise in NYC. And it works well.”

The Toronto Noise Coalition is made up of dozens of local residents’ associations and many independent stakeholders in the noise management debate.

Carmichael said, “The City of Toronto is trying to ram through this bylaw without considering the needs of all stakeholders, including the City’s own internal barriers to enforcement. It’s not just about funding. For example, while the bylaw covers motorcycle noise, only a police officer has the power the pull over a motor vehicle and issue a ticket.”

DECLARATION OF POLICY: Clearly communicate the Purpose of the Noise Bylaw is to protect the health and quality of life of the residents of Toronto.

GENERAL PROVISION: Include a General Provision for 24/7 protection from vibrations and sound of such a volume or nature that it is likely to disturb the City’s inhabitants.

AMPLIFIED SOUND: Replace and improve the specific bylaw prohibition 591-2.1 problematic noise sources to be projected beyond a property line onto streets or public places particularly City parks.

CONSTRUCTION: Comprehensive standards will limit the negative effects of constant construction. It must also encourage companies to adopt innovative technology and noise mitigating measures, such as a Noise Mitigation Plan – Contractors must develop a noise mitigation plan prior to the start of work. Every construction site must have a noise mitigation plan on location. If noise complaints are received, an inspector will ensure the contractor has posted the plan and that it is being followed, and Construction Scheduling – Prohibit construction of new homes and other major construction in residential areas on weekends and statutory holidays from May 1st to October 31st. Owner occupied work would still be permitted to perform needed work on their own homes as needed.

EXCEPTIONS: Exceptions must be considered a privilege not a right. Series approvals (approvals of more than one event at a time) should only be offered to applicants with a record of good compliance and an upper limit of the number of series approved by one application should be required- i.e. no more than three at a time. Noise Mitigation Plans must be a requirement for all exceptions applications to the policy. Limits to the number of permit approved in any park each year must be set. Events in residential neighbourhood parks must end no later than 10 pm.

ENFORCEMENT: Council must commit to increased investment for effective and timely enforcement

The following items will be before the Committee of Adjustment on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 in Committee Room 2 of Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West.

Within the files below you will find instructions on how to submit your comments to the Committee of Adjustment and how to sign up to speak. If you have any questions or comments, please email Mike Layton at councillor_layton@toronto.ca or call (416) 392-4009.

9:30am
458 Markham Street: To legalize and maintain the existing 2½-storey building that contains a dental office and four dwelling units. (Click to view: google map, notice, and plans)

669 Euclid Avenue: To alter the approved building permit plans for a three-storey semi-detached dwelling with three dwelling units by constructing a larger third floor with a rear deck and extending the rear second floor deck. (Click to view: google map, notice, and plans)

1:30pm
419 Montrose Avenue: To alter the existing two-storey townhouse/rowhouse by constructing: a rear two-storey addition with a basement walkout, a second suite in the basement and to extend the front porch and rear yard deck. (Click to view: google map, notice, and plans)

944-952 Queen Street West (Queen and Shaw — previous site of MOCCA): To alter the existing two storey buildings with office, retail, and restaurant uses. The east building will be used as a restaurant, a portion of the south building will contain retail uses, with the remainder as office uses. The north and west buildings will contain office uses. (Click to view: google map, notice, and plans)

About the Committee of Adjustment:
The Committee of Adjustment is comprised of citizen members and Councillors do not sit on this committee. They regularly hold public hearings to consider applications for minor variances, permission and consents. To learn more about the Committee of Adjustment please visit: www.toronto.ca/abcc/qj-committee-adjustment.htm